Skip to content
NOWCAST KCRA 3 News at 11pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Dance On The Edge offers free Latin dance classes to Sacramento

Dance On The Edge offers free Latin dance classes to Sacramento
You get people who just pass through and they fall in love with salsa. And then the next time you see them, you see them here and they're dancing and they're learning *** form of expression that's deeply rooted in Hispanic culture. I love salsa. My grandparents did salsa dancing and um I used to watch them dance but never did the old Sacramento waterfront transformed into *** Latin dance floor. I'm Cuban. So I enjoy dancing. So I saw that I was here at the waterfront. So I decided to come and bring my girls to try to learn to dance to our cultural music, moving to the rhythm of the beat. It's one way that we're able to move our body kind of celebrate the culture and learn about one another hosted by dance on the edge, *** nonprofit organization that puts on free land, dance lessons and events across Sacramento being of Hispanic heritage. We're just one big melting pot, right? Where we have *** lot of indigenous roots of migration of cultural exchange. So here we go. Seven and 1234, Cody Smith, the executive director says the organization has been hosting these events for nearly *** decade. Well, we generally start with *** free dance lesson from one of our local instructors at 6 p.m. They're generally teaching the history of the steps *** little bit of body movement, some intricate partner work and footwork. And uh after that, we come alive around 7 p.m. in Senia me *** lot or teach me how to dance. And that's exactly what dance instructor. Chris Lee does six prepping. Turn, they turn 123 leads. Turn his specialty Bachata. So when it comes to new dancers coming in, it's my job to take care of them and make sure they understand and get the rhythm and get them off their two right feet or two left feet. Like they just say, no matter the level of dance skills you have, event organizers say everyone is welcome, you know, dance itself is *** universal language. And so it's *** core part of, of Afro Latin and, and uh Hispanic culture, you know, and so this is just *** great way for people to have fun and everything that we, we fight about doesn't matter here. Kcre three news.
Advertisement
Dance On The Edge offers free Latin dance classes to Sacramento
Cumbia, Salsa, Merengue and Bachata are all popular Latin dance styles, and for a group of Sacramento residents, this is part of their culture.The organization Dance On The Edge invites everyone to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through free dance events that it hosts across the Sacramento region. They offer a complimentary dance lesson in the first hour of every event. This is great for beginner dancers or for anyone interested in brushing up on their technique. Executive Director Cody Smith said the nonprofit has been hosting these dance events for nearly 10 years. "Being of Hispanic heritage, we're just one big melting pot, where we have a lot of indigenous roots, of migration, of cultural exchange," Smith said. Those roots are showcased through the art of dance. The organization invited KCRA 3 to one of its events held at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. The event drew in a big crowd and had food and art vendors as people came to check out the event."Dance Itself is a universal language. And so it's a, it's a core part of Afro-Latin and Hispanic culture, you know?" Smith said. "And so this is just a great way for people to have fun."Dancers of all levels came out to participate and welcomed everyone to the dance floor, creating a family-friendly environment that had multiple people smiling. "I'm Cuban, so I enjoy dancing. So I saw that it was here at the waterfront. So I decided to come and bring my girls to try to learn to dance our cultural music," Katalina DeLuna said. Event organizers say they've seen the events grow throughout the years. They plan on hosting events through November before taking a break for the holidays. Most events are held at Old Sac or at District 56 in Elk Grove. You can click here for a full list of their upcoming events. This story is one of several that will be highlighted in part of our Hispanic Heritage Month special titled "Celebrando Nuestras Raíces." It will air Thursday at 7:30 p.m.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

Cumbia, Salsa, Merengue and Bachata are all popular Latin dance styles, and for a group of Sacramento residents, this is part of their culture.

The organization Dance On The Edge invites everyone to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month through free dance events that it hosts across the Sacramento region.

Advertisement

They offer a complimentary dance lesson in the first hour of every event. This is great for beginner dancers or for anyone interested in brushing up on their technique. Executive Director Cody Smith said the nonprofit has been hosting these dance events for nearly 10 years.

"Being of Hispanic heritage, we're just one big melting pot, where we have a lot of indigenous roots, of migration, of cultural exchange," Smith said.

Those roots are showcased through the art of dance. The organization invited KCRA 3 to one of its events held at the Old Sacramento Waterfront.

The event drew in a big crowd and had food and art vendors as people came to check out the event.

"Dance Itself is a universal language. And so it's a, it's a core part of Afro-Latin and Hispanic culture, you know?" Smith said. "And so this is just a great way for people to have fun."

Dancers of all levels came out to participate and welcomed everyone to the dance floor, creating a family-friendly environment that had multiple people smiling.

"I'm Cuban, so I enjoy dancing. So I saw that it was here at the waterfront. So I decided to come and bring my girls to try to learn to dance our cultural music," Katalina DeLuna said.

Event organizers say they've seen the events grow throughout the years. They plan on hosting events through November before taking a break for the holidays.

Most events are held at Old Sac or at District 56 in Elk Grove.

You can click here for a full list of their upcoming events.


This story is one of several that will be highlighted in part of our Hispanic Heritage Month special titled "Celebrando Nuestras Raíces." It will air Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter